Would You Have Your Son Get the HPV Vaccine?

Lots of mothers have given permission for their daughters to get the Gardasil vaccine, but it may soon be available for their sons. The human papillomavirus (HPV) has become so widespread that many pediatricians are administering the preventative shots (given in three doses within six months) to their patients. According to one report:

A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted Wednesday to recommend that the vaccine be made available to boys and young men aged 9 to 26 for protection against genital warts caused by HPV.

The vaccine protects against four types of HPV, and two of those are believed to be responsible for 70 percent of cervical and anal cancers, and HPV-associated penile and throat-and-neck cancers. The other two cause 90 percent of genital warts cases, researchers say.

Why take a crap shoot with a vaccine that has seriously injured some young women? This vaccine doesnt protect against the disease, it protects against one of the strains that may later cause the disease. How about safe sex and learning to have self-control so no one gets knocked up or diseases.

5 years

Sorry, I forgot the words "for my children." It's obviously too late for me, I mean I won't be getting the vaccine for my children even though I have HPV and get regular screening. The safety of it has not been proven to nearly the extent I need.

5 years

"I have HPV and go through regular screening. I still won't be getting the vaccine not knowing yet that it's safe."
If you already have HPV, the vaccine would be pointless.

5 years

I have HPV and go through regular screening. I still won't be getting the vaccine not knowing yet that it's safe.
And it's really funny that you typed an Anonymous post asking people to stop being Anonymous. lol. Throwing some random letters in doesn't make it any less anonymous.

5 years

I'd say, first let's stop with being anonymous. Second, as someone who has had a cervical cancer scare, but above the age to get vaccinated, I'd love boys to get the vaccine. It would be nice to start preventing the most common source of spread, and the threat to females. While I hope my son is not afflicted with HPV, I also hope that he never contributes to the spread.

5 years

I agree that the options need to be simply yes or no! I also want my children protected but feel it's not a wise decision to use such a new vaccine with problems stemming from it. I also don't plan to be jumping in line for the H1N1 vaccine as it's so new and untested. I want my family safe, but will not expose them to something this risky until they're both proven further.

5 years

Also, as usual, why not just do a yes or no option? My answer isn't no, I want him to protect himself, my answer is no, the vaccine is nowhere near proven safe or effective.

5 years

Neither my sons nor daughters will get it. It doesn't have enough history and problems are being discovered the more the vaccine is given.